Hurricane Lili (2002) Facts for Kids

Hurricane Lili was a very powerful storm that happened during the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the strongest hurricane that year based on its wind speed. At its most powerful, Lili had winds of 145 miles per hour!

Lili caused a lot of damage and sadly, 13 people died because of the storm in the Caribbean islands. When it reached the United States, Lili hit Louisiana as a Category One hurricane. Its winds were still very strong, between 90 and 100 miles per hour.

Even though there were no direct deaths in the United States, two people died indirectly because of the hurricane. The storm caused a lot of property damage, costing between $750 million and $1.5 billion. This made Lili the most expensive hurricane of the 2002 season. Because of how much damage and impact it had, the name Lili was later stopped from being used for future hurricanes and was replaced by the name Laura.

What Was Hurricane Lili?
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What Was Hurricane Lili?

Hurricane Lili was a tropical cyclone, which is a big, spinning storm system. It formed in the Atlantic Ocean in September 2002. Lili grew stronger as it moved across the ocean, becoming a major hurricane.

The storm was known for its incredibly strong winds. Even though another storm, Hurricane Isidore, had lower air pressure (which can also show how strong a hurricane is), Lili's winds were the most powerful of the season.

Lili's Journey

Lili started as a small weather disturbance near the Cape Verde islands on September 21, 2002. It slowly moved west across the Atlantic. As it traveled, it gathered more energy from the warm ocean waters.

By September 23, it became a tropical storm and was named Lili. It continued to get stronger, becoming a hurricane on September 24. Lili then moved through parts of the Caribbean Sea.

Impact in the Caribbean

As Hurricane Lili moved through the Caribbean, it brought heavy rain and strong winds. It affected several islands, including Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Haiti, and Jamaica.

The storm caused flooding and damage to homes and crops in these areas. Sadly, 13 people lost their lives in the Caribbean due to Lili's impact.

Heading Towards the U.S.

After passing through the Caribbean, Lili entered the Gulf of Mexico. It quickly became very powerful, reaching its peak strength with winds of 145 miles per hour. This made it a Category 4 hurricane.

However, as Lili got closer to the U.S. coast, it started to weaken. This was good news for the people living in its path.

Landfall in Louisiana

On October 3, 2002, Hurricane Lili made landfall in Louisiana. By this time, it had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. Its winds were still strong, blowing between 90 and 100 miles per hour.

Even though it was weaker, Lili still caused a lot of problems. It brought heavy rainfall and storm surges, which is when the ocean water is pushed onto land.

Damage in the United States

In Louisiana, the storm surge caused widespread coastal flooding. Many homes and businesses were flooded, especially in low-lying areas. Strong winds also knocked down trees and power lines, leaving many people without electricity.

The damage from Lili was very expensive. The total cost of damage in the United States was estimated to be between $750 million and $1.5 billion. This made it the most costly hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season.

While there were no direct deaths from the storm in the United States, two indirect deaths occurred. These might have been from accidents related to the storm, like clean-up efforts.

Retirement of the Name Lili

Because Hurricane Lili caused so much damage and loss of life, its name was officially "retired" by the World Meteorological Organization. This means the name Lili will never be used again for another Atlantic hurricane.

This is done for very destructive or deadly storms to prevent confusion and to show respect for the victims. The name Laura was chosen to replace Lili on the list of hurricane names.

Images for kids

Hurricane Lili over the Gulf of Mexico seen from the International Space Station (ISS) on October 2
National Hurricane Center track forecast of Lili from September 30
Strike probabilities associated with Lili while still out in the south-central Gulf of Mexico
Hurricane Lili shortly after landfall in Louisiana on October 3
Hurricane Lili over Cuba on October 1
Lili Storm Total Rainfall in the United States
Louisiana coastal flooding associated with Lili
Disaster declarations by parish within Louisiana from Hurricane Lili